Ben Affleck to play Batman in 'Man of Steel' sequel

Warner Bros. announced on Thursday that the 41-year-old actor-director will star in the role of Batman in the unnamed sequel to Man of Steel.

Hollywood actor Ben Affleck

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The studio announced at Comic-Con in July that the two superheroes, Superman and Batman, would battle each other in the next film.

Warner Bros. said in a statement: "Affleck and filmmaker Zack Snyder will create an entirely new incarnation of the character in Snyder’s as-yet-untitled project, bringing Batman and Superman together for the first time on the big screen and continuing the director’s vision of their universe, which he established in 'Man of Steel.'"

Henry Cavill, who played Superman in "Man of Steel," will reprise his role in the new film. Zack Snyder is back in the director's chair for the project, which places Batman and Superman together on the big screen for the first time.

Christian Bale, who starred in three installments of Batman movies, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and the Dark Knight Rises, announced that he had no intention of starring in the role again. There was still plenty of speculation that he was being considered for the role in the Man of Steel sequel regardless though.

The director of "The Dark Knight" series, Christopher Nolan, also said he wasn't pulling for a fourth movie in the franchise. He will serve as one of the executive producers in the upcoming Superman-Batman film though.

In July, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ryan Gosling were favorites for the part of Batman, and Affleck's name wasn't even mentioned on a London Guardian's list of 15 possible Batman contenders.

"We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics' most enduringly popular superheroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent, and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character," said Greg Silverman, Warner Bros.' president of creative development and worldwide production.

Ben Affleck has played other superheros in the past, as Daredevil in 2003 and as George Reeves, known in the movie Hollywoodland as the TV actor on the Adventures of Superman.

"Ben provides an interesting counterbalance to Henry's Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him." said Snyder in his announcement.

Man of Steel has earned more than $650 million worldwide to date. The as-yet-unnamed film, which is rumored to be titled "Superman vs. Batman," is set to hit theaters in summer 2015.